Has Lebron lived up to the hype?

[bmain77]

I'm going to say no to that question. But then I'm not sure he could live up to all the hype surrounding if he was averaging a triple double this year.

That being said I'm in complete awe of what he is doing this season. There was know way I thought he'd have this much success this season. And even if he did I was convinced that the Cavs would be horrilbe again. I'll be the first to admit I was way off on both points.

He probably should have been an all-star this year. His team is in contention of the playoffs. I've never scene a player with this much court awareness at such a young age. I thought those Magic comparisons were crazy, but maybe not so much now. Also I'd of put my money on Carmelo being the best rookie this year. Wrong again there too.

And even more imortant to me than what he is doing on the floor is what he is doing off it. He hasn't let all the hype and exposure go to his head in the least bit. With the whole Hummer thing and alll I was sure we were in for yet another super talented super asshole. I couldn't have been more wrong.

[docholiday_13]

I think Lebron's been as advertised. He shows flashes of sheer brilliance but his average at best jumper and the fact that he plays for such a mediocre team kinda takes the shine off his season.

Carmelo Anthony has played a much more complete game plus his Nuggets are very respectable. Maybe the kid was right when he said he deserved to be taken first over James.

[Nachokoolaid]

I'm not the biggest B-ball fan, but I watch enough sportscenter to be able to answer this.

YES.

It's simple. He's amazing. The closest thing to Jordan (which the NBA has been looking for since he left) that we're likely to ever see.

[James Logan]

The guy did live up to the hype -- heck, he made some of it. He should be an All-Star; he's one of the most complete players in the NBA (averaging around 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists a game), he hasn't gone big-headed as some might've expected, he can jump hell high, he's got terrific court awareness as mentioned...and the guy's only barely 19.

I think the whole difference is gonna be made if the Cavaliers make the playoffs. If the Cavs make the playoffs, no one can say he missed his season. If they don't, no one who knows anything about basketball will be able to say he missed his season either -- but the LeBron haters will still be out there taking that as ammo.

Yes, I'm a LeBron James lover. And he hasn't disappointed me so far.

And Doc, about Carmelo being more complete...I don't know, dude. LeBron scores more, passes the ball more, takes nearly as many rebounds, steals the ball more, blocks about as much, they have about the same shooting percentage (41%), same free throw percentage (75%)...The only true difference is that LeBron loses the ball more, but a) LeBron is a guard, so it's normal he gets caught off the dribble more often; b) LeBron plays five minutes more than Mello a game.
True, the Nuggets win. But credit for that goes as much to head coach Jeff Bzdelik than as anyone else. Besides, the Nuggets got a solid team -- Voshon Lenard, Andre Miller, Marcus Camby...Don't get me wrong, Carmelo is THE man in Denver. But saying he's better than LeBron...he was when the season kicked off. He isn't anymore -- and the Cavaliers are starting to win some games, while the Nuggets are starting to lose 'em.

[horrorfreak13]

I see a lot of his highlights and I see alot of his stats and I think he's lived up to the hype. He should be in the All-Star game but he isn't because a bunch of bone head coaches don't think so. It's a damn shame.

[FrankT.JMackey]

I would say definitely... compare his numbers to the numbers of other rookies right out of high school.

[James Logan]

Indeed...

LeBron James: 20.7 pts -- 5.7 rebonds -- 5.8 assists -- 41%
Kobe Bryant: 7.6 pts -- 1.9 rebounds -- 1.3 assists -- 42%
Kevin Garnett: 10.4 pts -- 6.3 rebounds -- 1.8 assists -- 49%
Tracy McGrady: 7 pts -- 4.2 rebounds -- 1.5 assists -- 45%
Kwame Brown: 4.5 pts -- 3.5 rebounds -- 0.8 assists -- 38%

LeBron's stastistically better than all these players were in their rookie years, including now All-Stars and MVP contenders Bryant, Garnett and McGrady. Not only that, he's the only one of 'em all who's carrying the team on his shoulders during his first season, at the old age of 19.

Lived up to the hype? I think so.

[horrorfreak13]

He's also now the youngest player in NBAS history to hit a 1000 points at 19 years old and 43 days or somewhere around there. :eek:

[Dark_One79]

LeBron has more than lived up to whatever hype had been thrust upon him over the last year or so.

Like someone already mentioned, he is averaging 20, 6, and 6. Those are spectacular numbers for a seasoned two-guard, let alone a fresh-faced, 19 year old rook from Ohio.

I cannot fathom how anyone, who actually has realistic expectations for NBA rookies in this day and age, can say that he hasn't lived up to the hype.

In my lifetime I have never seen a high school player enter the NBA and have nearly the impact that LeBron has had. To find anything similiar one would have to jump back to Moses Malone.

LeBron has been spectacular.

[Goku]

I think the odds are still against him becoming the player people were predicting. (and still are)

He has lived up to expectations this season for sure. But people expect him to stand above every single other player in the league. And they expect it soon (withing 3 years I'd guess, and if he isn't they'll start saying he was overrated. Even if he reaches the TMac/Kobe level, people will be disappointed)

I think he will get better, but he might be closer to his peak than people think. For him to become the player the media expects, he is gonna have to improve a LOT.

I hope he does though, because he seems like one of the good guys.

[James Logan]

I think he WILL improve. The flaws he has so far are the ones all rookies have -- too many forced shots, gets tired because of the 82-game schedule and back-to-back games, irregular performances...But those usually disappear in the second and third years for hard-working rookies. And LeBron seems to be working hard. I think he'll be even better in years to come.

[Haddonfield]

the one true thing tho that these athletes are compared too is championships. He could have an amazing career, score a ton of points, but his legacy will be with Rings. Look at Marino...the guy set some pretty lofty records...but no ring.

[Jyrka]

Here's Lebron vs MJ for all you lazy schmucks:

LeBron James: 20.7 pts -- 5.7 rebonds -- 5.8 assists -- 41%
Michael Jordan: 28.2 pts -- 6.5 rebounds -- 5.9 assists -- 51%

[FrankT.JMackey]

Originally posted by Jyrka
Here's Lebron vs MJ for all you lazy schmucks:

LeBron James: 20.7 pts -- 5.7 rebonds -- 5.8 assists -- 41%
Michael Jordan: 28.2 pts -- 6.5 rebounds -- 5.9 assists -- 51%

It's stupid to compare their numbers considering as a rookie Michael Jordan was 22/23 and had 4 years of college basketball experience on one of the premiere teams in college basketball while Lebron is a 19 year old right out of high school, it's way too early to tell or to make judgments.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by FrankT.JMackey
It's stupid to compare their numbers considering as a rookie Michael Jordan was 22/23 and had 4 years of college basketball experience on one of the premiere teams in college basketball while Lebron is a 19 year old right out of high school, it's way too early to tell or to make judgments.

LeBron's always gonna get those comparisons with MJ. And sure, it's pointless. But as rookies: both young, both terrific jumpers and dunkers, both carrying a team on their sole shoulders (except James has a terrific Carlos Boozer there with him), both the big Nike contract...

And statistically...well, the comparison IS sound. Both played a lot, both took the money shots, both play a very all-around game for rookies, and those 8 more points MJ scored in average are probably the effect of his better shooting percentage.